The new issue of Interactions just came out, but I am still browsing through the May + June issue. Is usability obsolete? is another relevant and interesting article by Katie Minardo Scott.
In this article Katie Minardo Scott presents a fresh perspective on usability and the future. Current usability consultants are facing some problems;
The basics are insufficient – Clients understand the basics and sometimes have complete internal usability teams. Usability experts must contribute with something beyond the obvious.
Higher level of complexity – Usability is not about the interface of a website or a product anymore, but is a combination of perhaps a product, a software interface or many, a web site and a service, all working in an interconnected system. Traditional methods of usability are no longer applicable to this level of complexity.
Dynamic environment – Things we design are not static. What we design for today, may look different next year, next month or next week.
To adapt usability to a new world order, she proposes;
1. agile usability – To design for continuous change.
2. ubiquity to our advantage – Utilise the opportunity in the complexity of usability to our advantage and evolve our skills.
3. contextual methods – Develop new methods designed with contextual consideration in mind, adaptable to the problems we face.
4. embracing users as designers – To find ways of involving and engaging users into the design process.
